Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in El Salvador

El Salvador: Employment in agriculture vs. urban population was 14.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
14.8%
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
93rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
27.6%
in 1991
All-time low
14.8%
in 2023
Years of data
33
1991–2023

Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in El Salvador, 1991–2023

01020301991200720231991: 27.6 %1992: 27.5 %1993: 27.4 %1994: 27.1 %1995: 26.8 %1996: 26.1 %1997: 25.7 %1998: 25.1 %1999: 22.1 %2000: 21.6 %2001: 21.8 %2002: 19.7 %2003: 18.2 %2004: 19.1 %2005: 20 %2006: 18.9 %2007: 18 %2008: 18.7 %2009: 20.9 %2010: 20.8 %2011: 21.6 %2012: 21 %2013: 19.6 %2014: 18.8 %2015: 18.1 %2016: 18.7 %2017: 18.6 %2018: 16.7 %2019: 16.3 %2020: 15.8 %2021: 14.9 %2022: 15 %2023: 14.8 %

Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for employment in agriculture vs. urban population in El Salvador is 14.8%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.

The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 24.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment in agriculture vs. urban population in El Salvador peaked at 27.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 14.8%, in 2023.

El Salvador ranks 93rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.

Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in El Salvador, year by year

Annual values for Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in El Salvador, 1991 to 2023.
Year % Change
1991 27.6%
1992 27.5% -0.2%
1993 27.4% -0.5%
1994 27.1% -0.9%
1995 26.8% -1.4%
1996 26.1% -2.3%
1997 25.7% -1.6%
1998 25.1% -2.5%
1999 22.1% -11.7%
2000 21.6% -2.4%
2001 21.8% +0.9%
2002 19.7% -9.5%
2003 18.2% -7.6%
2004 19.1% +4.9%
2005 20.0% +4.5%
2006 18.9% -5.7%
2007 18.0% -4.5%
2008 18.7% +3.7%
2009 20.9% +11.9%
2010 20.8% -0.6%
2011 21.6% +3.9%
2012 21.0% -2.9%
2013 19.6% -6.6%
2014 18.8% -4.2%
2015 18.1% -3.5%
2016 18.7% +3.1%
2017 18.6% -0.6%
2018 16.7% -10.0%
2019 16.3% -2.5%
2020 15.8% -3.1%
2021 14.9% -5.8%
2022 15.0% +0.7%
2023 14.8% -1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 26.2% 22.1% 27.6% 9
2000s 19.7% 18.0% 21.8% 10
2010s 19.0% 16.3% 21.6% 10
2020s 15.1% 14.8% 15.8% 4

Countries ranked near El Salvador

  1. 90 Cuba 17.1% compare
  2. 91 Belize 15.6% compare
  3. 92 Syria 15.0% compare
  4. 94 Panama 14.7% compare
  5. 95 Türkiye 14.6% compare
  6. 96 Jamaica 14.6% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for El Salvador

All data for El Salvador →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment in agriculture vs. urban population in El Salvador?
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in El Salvador was 14.8% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in El Salvador?
The highest recorded value was 27.6% in 1991.
What is the lowest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in El Salvador?
The lowest recorded value was 14.8% in 2023.
How does El Salvador rank for employment in agriculture vs. urban population?
El Salvador ranks 93rd out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
Is employment in agriculture vs. urban population rising or falling in El Salvador?
Over the last ten years it is down 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this El Salvador data come from?
The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment in agriculture vs. urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in El Salvador. Statizoid, drawing on ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-in-agri-vs-urban-pop/el-salvador/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population
Unit
%
Source
ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,134 data points, 1991–2023
Last refreshed

The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.